Could cabbage prevent cancer?

Researchers at Cardiff University want to find out if a substance found in vegetables like cabbage and sprouts could ward off cervical cancer.

They need 3,000 volunteers for the study on the effects of the chemical- diindolylmethane (DIM) - which is sold as a food supplement.

Cancer Research UK is funding the trial.

Source BBC News.

Vitamin warning for liver lovers

People should limit eating liver to once a week and be careful about other sources of vitamin A, say food experts.

Too much is toxic and increases the risk of bone fractures, according to advisers to the Food Standards Agency.

Combining supplements with vitamin A-rich foods such as liver is particularly risky, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition says.

Post-menopausal women and older people at highest risk of fractures should not have more than 1.5mg per day, it says

Source BBC News

African herb yields its anti-addiction secret

THE secret of an African herb that helps drug addicts and alcoholics kick the habit has been discovered. The finding could lead to safer and more effective medications for treating addiction.

Since the 1960s, many addicts have reported that even a single dose of ibogaine, a hallucinogenic alkaloid extracted from the root of an African shrub, helps them kick their habit by reducing their cravings for drugs. And there is hard evidence to back these claims, as well. However, troubling side effects - including heart problems and several deaths - have kept ibogaine from being widely accepted as a medical treatment. Instead, a few researchers have begun searching for ways to deliver ibogaine's benefits without its risks.

Source New Scientist

Camomile tea for aches and ills

Drinking camomile tea can fight a cold and banish menstrual cramps, UK researchers believe.
Five cups a day for a fortnight is enough to boost urine levels of substances that can ease muscle spasms and fight inflammation.

The team from London's Imperial College tested the urine of 14 healthy camomile tea drinkers.
Their research will appear in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Source BBC News

Olive oil acid 'cuts cancer risk'

Scientists in Chicago say they have uncovered why a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil seems to cut the risk of developing breast cancer.

The key is an ingredient of olive oil called oleic acid, they say.

Northwestern University laboratory tests on breast cancer cells showed the acid sharply cut levels of a gene thought to trigger the disease.

Cancer charities said the study, in Annals of Oncology, was interesting, but more research was needed.

Source BBC News

Folic acid 'cuts blood pressure'

Folic acid may help keep blood pressure in check, US researchers believe.

The study, in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association, adds to growing evidence of folate's cardiovascular benefits.

The Harvard team looked at data on about 156,000 nurses and found those with the lowest intakes of folate were at greater risk of hypertension.

Last week, researchers said folic acid - found in green leafy vegetables - might benefit people at risk of stroke.

Source BBC News

Recognising a stroke

I was sent this in my e-mail and felt it was important to share. I have rewritten it a bit to make it more universal. I'll try to keep it at top position as long as possible.

Valuable information for everyone to keep in their memory bank.

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed and getting to the patient within 3 hours which is tough.

RECOGNISING A STROKE - A true story

Susie is recouperating at an incredible pace for someone who has had a massive stroke all because Sherry saw Susie stumble - - that is the key that isn't mentioned below - and then she asked Susie 3 questions. So simple - but this literally saved Susie's life - - Some angel sent it to Suzie's friend and she did just what it said to do. Suzie failed all three points and her friend called the emergency services.

Even though she had normal blood pressure readings and did not appear to be a stroke victim as she could converse to some extent with the Paramedics they took her to the hospital right away. Thank goodness for her friend's good sense.

Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.

Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
3. Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (ie . It is sunny out today).

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call the emergency services immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged thegeneral public to learn the three questions.
They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February.

Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and help prevent brain damage.

A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this tells another 10 people, you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

BE A FRIEND AND SHARE THIS ARTICLE WITH AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE, you could save their lives.

Origina author Laura Hoskinson